Difficile specific oligonucleotides

ABSTRACT

Oligonucleotides having substantially specific binding affinity towards C. difficile DNA are disclosed, especially oligonucleotides specific to the C. difficile A-toxin gene. Such oligonucleotides are useful as DNA probes and PCR primers in the detection of C. difficile in human clinical samples, e.g. fecal samples.

This invention relates to oligonucleotides specific to bacteria of the species Clostridium difficile and useful as C. difficile DNA probes or in the amplification of C. difficile DNA.

Clostridium difficile, a Gram positive anaerobic spore-forming organism, is recognized as the major cause of pseudomembranous colitis and is implicated in antibiotic-associated colitis and diarrhoea. The pathogenicity of the organism is related to the production of an enterotoxin, toxin A, and a potent cytotoxin, toxin B. The diagnosis of C. difficile-associated disease depends on the isolation and identification of the organism and/or the demonstration of toxins in faecal specimens of patients and mono-specific antibodies for that purpose are disclosed in EP-A-0153519 and EP-A-0154064. Such procedures are time consuming, and a more rapid diagnosis is essential to enable the initiation of prompt therapy.

The present invention aims to avoid these difficulties by providing oligonucleotides specific to C. difficile DNA and is a development of the work reported in J. Clin. Microbiol. 24, 3, pp 384-387 (Sep. 1986). In that paper, the results of immunoblot studies on various strains of C. difficile were reported to various immunogenic proteins were identified common to all nine C. difficile strains tested. In particular, three common antigens were potentially identified with molecular weights in the range 50 to 70 kDa.

Following on from those studies, further antigens have now been identified common to all C. difficile strains tested, and the genes encoding those antigens have been identified, cloned and, in one case, sequenced giving rise to the present invention, namely the construction, for the first time, of DNA probes and oligonucleotide primers specific to C. difficile DNA.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a photograph showing the bands obtained by subjecting genetic DNA from C. difficile to PCR amplification using oligonucleotides according to the present invention as primers and subjecting the product of the CR reaction to separation on an agarose gel.

FIG. 2 is a similar photograph but showing the results obtained using a different pair of primers for the PCR reaction.

More specifically, in accordance with a first aspect of the present invention a 1947 bp DNA fragment encoding part of the A toxin gene of C. difficile has been identified, cloned and sequenced, the sequence being as set out in the Appendix I hereto as SEQ ID No.1 and which is to be taken as forming part of the present specification.

Analyzing that 1947 bp sequence in more detail, a continuous open reading frame is found containing four distinct groups of repeat nucleotide sequence with 88 to 100% identity within each group. These groups, identified herein as A, B, C, D (A=81 bp; B, C, D=63 bp) appear in the following arrangement:

    __________________________________________________________________________      ##STR1##                                                                      where                                                                          A =                                                                            5' ATA GGG GTG TTT AAA GGA CCT AAA GGA TTT GAA TAT TTT  GCA                       Ile Gly Val Phe Lys Gly Pro Lys Gly Phe Glu Tyr Phe  Ala                       CCT GCT AAT ACT TAT AAT AAT AAC ATA GAA GGT CAG GCT 3'                                                                              nucleotides               Pro Ala Asn Thr Tyr Asn Asn Asn Ile Glu Gly Gln Ala  1-81 of Seq.                                                                   I.D. No. 1             B =                                                                            5' ATA GTT TAT CAA AGT AAA TTC TTA ACT TTG AAT                                    Ile Val Tyr Gln Ser Lys Phe Leu Thr Leu Asn                                    GGT AAA AAA TAT TAC TTT GAT AAT AAC TCA 3'           nucleotides               Gly Lys Lys Tyr Tyr Phe Asp Asn Asn Ser              82-144 of Seq                                                                  I.D. No. 1             C =                                                                            5' GAA GCA GCT ACT GGA TGG CAA ACT ATT GAT GGT                                    Glu Ala Ala Tyr Gly Trp Gln Tyr Ile Asp Gly                                    AAA AAA TAT TAC TTT AAT ACT AAC ACT GCT 3'           nucleotides               Lys Lys Tyr Tyr Phe Asn Tyr Asn Tyr Ala              208-270 of                                                                     Seq I.D.                                                                       No. 1                  and                                                                            D =                                                                            5' ATA GCT TCA ACT GGT TAT ACA ATT ATT AAT GGT                                    Ile Ala Ser Thr Gly Tyr Thr Ile Ile Asn Gly                                    AAA CAT TTT TAT TTT AAT ACT GAT GGT ATT 3'           nucleotides               Lys His Phe Tyr Phe Asn Thr Asp Gly Ile              334-396 of                                                                     Seq I.D.                                                                       No.                    __________________________________________________________________________                                                             1                 

The repeating sequence of the A, B, C and D blocks given above account for 1935 bp of the 1947 bp fragment. The remaining 12 are accounted for two linking areas each of 6 bp which occur between the A and D groups underlined.

Utilizing that information oligonucleotides and DNA probes capable of hybridizing to the C. difficile A toxin gene and potentially useful in the early detection of C. difficile infection may now be constructed. The probes may range in size from virtually the complete 1947 nucleotide sequence given in the appendix hereto, SEQ ID No 1 down to sequences of a more appropriate length for oligonucleotide synthesis, for example, sequence of from 15 to 300 nucleotides, more usually of from 15 to 50 nucleotides and especially from 15 to 30. The final selection of a particular oligonucleotide, or pair of oligonucleotides will depend upon a number of factors, well understood in the art, and including amongst others the stringency requirements, i.e. the ability or otherwise of the probe to tolerate local mismatching with the complementary sequence in the target DNA. Obviously the longer the probe the better the ability to withstand local mismatching without adversely affecting the hybridization of the oligonucleotide to the target DNA. However, the length of the oligonucleotide always has to be balanced against other factors such as ease of synthesis. The factors affecting that choice are, however, well recognized and well within the capabilities of the person skilled in the art.

Also, as the person skilled in the art will recognize, references herein to particular oligonucleotides and sequences in single stranded form and including the complete 1947 bp sequence, and which are written, as is required, reading from left to right, i.e. from the 5' terminus to the 3' terminus, automatically include the complementary sequence. Not only that, but oligonucleotide sequences given herein as DNA sequences can equally well be constructed as RNA sequences with uracil (U) replacing thymine (T).

Whilst, as indicated, the generality of the present invention extends to DNA (and RNA) probes complementary to any sequence of nucleotide bases to be found in the 1947 bp sequence set out hereinafter, certain sequences and pairs of sequences can be identified as being particularly preferred. For example, sequences selected from the repeat sequences already given are especially preferred as being complementary to two spaced but identical sections of the C. difficile A toxin gene. One such sequence is the 25 unit oligonucleotide:

    ______________________________________                                         BW71:                                                                          5'  AAACTATTGA TGGTAAAAAA TATTA 3'                                                                            nucleotides                                                                    227-251 of                                                                     Seq I.D.                                                                       No. 1                                           ______________________________________                                    

(BW71 is simply an identification code) which sequence is to be found in the Toxin A Repeat C sequence given above.

A more particular aspect of the present invention relates to selected pairs of C. difficile oligonucleotide probes which can be used to amplify the C. difficile A toxin gene or sections thereof by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology and using selected pairs of oligonucleotides as primers.

In recent years PCR has developed into a major tool in DNA probe technology enabling highly sensitive detection of minute amounts of genetic material present in a sample by first amplifying the gene or gene fragment by PCR to replicate a multiplicity of identical gene or gene fragments. Not only does that enable better detection of that gene or gene fragment, but it provides a substantial reservoir of genetic material for subsequent research and analysis, and for subsequent cloning and expression in a suitable vector. However, PCR presupposes at least some knowledge of the nucleotide sequence in the gene or gene fragment to be amplified, in view of the need to provide an oligonucleotide primer for the PCR, which primer hybridized to the complementary sequence in the gene or gene fragment to be amplified and which initiates the PCR replication of the gene or gene fragment from that point. The use of a pair of primers which hybridize to the target DNA at different spaced apart locations enable precise lengths of the target gene or gene fragment to be amplified. Once again, it is theoretically possible to use any pair of oligonucleotides hybridizable at different points of the C. difficile A toxin gene as primers for the PCR amplification and subsequent detection of that gene, and consequently the detection of C. difficile in a sample, e.g. a clinical sample. However, it is preferable to use as primers for the PCR oligonucleotide which hybridize to spaced locations on one of the repeat sequences now identified as appearing in the C. difficile A toxin gene. Thus, in the amplification of the gene by PCR replication of the repeat sequence occurs in parallel at each location of that sequence in the gene, thus substantially increasing the replication rate, and increasing not only the sensitivity of the C. difficile detection, but also dramatically reducing that time required to carry out a diagnosis of C. difficile infection in a patient. In tests carried out by the present inventors, positive diagnoses of C. difficile infection have been confirmed by PCR within the space of five hours.

Based on the repeat sequences given above, various oligonucleotide pairings can be suggested of various different lengths and comprising a sequence of nucleotides complementary to the sequences at the 5'- and 3'- ends of each repeat sequence. Especially preferred are pairs of oligonucleotides complementary to the 5' and 3' termini of the tandem C repeat sequence. Two particular pairings which have been synthesized and used in accordance with this invention are

    ______________________________________                                         BW69:                                                                          5'  GAAGCAGCTA   CTGGATGGCA   3'  nucleotides                                                                    208-227 of                                                                     Seq I.D. No. 1.                              BW70:                                                                          5'  AGCAGTGTTA   GTATTAAAGT   3'  complementary to                                                               nucleotides                                                                    251-270 of                                                                     Seq I.D. No. 1                               ______________________________________                                    

complementary to the opposite ends of the C. difficile A toxin gene repeat sequence C,

and

    ______________________________________                                         BW65:                                                                          5'  ATAGGGGTGT   TTAAAGGACC T 3'                                                                               nucleotides 1-21                                                               of Seq. I.D.                                                                   No. 1.                                         BW66:                                                                          5'  AGCCTGACCT   TCTATGTTAT 3'  complementary to                                                               nucleotides 62-81                                                              of Seq. I.D.                                                                   No. 1                                          ______________________________________                                    

complementary to the opposite ends of the C. difficile A toxin gene repeat sequence A.

In general terms, the preferential pairings for PCR amplification of the C. difficile A toxin gene fragments may be identified as oligonucleotide sequences of from 15-25 nucleotides complementary to the 15 to 25 nucleotide sequences at the 5' to 3' ends of the A, B, C and D repeat sequences identified above, and especially of the A and C sequences.

In accordance, with a second aspect of the present invention a 31 kDa antigen has been identified as common to all C. difficile strains tested, and has been found to be encoded by a 1.8 kb HindIII digestion fragment of C. difficile DNA. Thus, in accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, C. difficile probes are provided derived from or complementary to 1.8 kb HindIII digestion fragment of C. difficile or to individual sequences of that fragment and comprising oligonucleotides again ranging in size from 15 units to substantially the complete sequence, but more usually ranging in size from 15 to 300 units, most usually 15 to 50 units, more preferably 15 to 30 units.

Although the correct reading frame has yet to be established, the complete sequence of the 1.8 kb HindIII digestion fragment encoding the 31 kDa C. difficile antigen is as set out in Appendix II as SEQ ID No.2 and which again is to be taken as form a part of the present specification.

Particular oligonucleotide probes complementary to selected sequences of the 1.8 kb HindIII fragment are identified as follows, the numbers in parentheses are simply identification codes.

    ______________________________________                                                                  Hind III Frag-                                                                 ment Sequence                                         Probe                    nt. numbers                                           ______________________________________                                         (028) 5'AAAAATGCTC                                                                            AGCTTGCAG 3'  nucleotides                                                                    318-336 of                                                                     Seq. I.D.                                                                      No. 2                                             (031) 5'AAAAATTTAA                                                                            CTAAGTT 3'    nucleotides                                                                    234-750 of                                                                     Seq. I.D.                                                                      No. 2                                             (029) 5'AACAATTTTA                                                                            TTTAAAC 3'    complementary                                                                  to nucleotides                                                                 1460-1476 of                                                                   Seq. I.D. No. 2                                   (032) 5'TTTTGATGTT                                                                            AACTGACC 3'   complementary                                                                  to nucleotides                                                                 1058-1075 of                                                                   Seq. I.D. No. 2                                   (037) 5'GTTACTTTTG                                                                            ATACAGTA 3'   nucleotides                                                                    1076-1093 of                                                                   Seq. I.D. No. 2                                   ______________________________________                                    

In a broad aspect therefore, the present invention provides C. difficile specific oligonucleotides comprising oligonucleotides of at least 15 nucleotides complementary to, and capable to hybridization with, any sequence of 15 or more nucleotide bases of the DNA sequences hereinbefore set forth and identified respectively as the 1.8 kb HindIII DNA fragment of C. difficile and the 1947 bp A Toxin DNA fragment, said probes having a length upto and including the complete sequence.

Within that broad class, two broad sub-categories can be identified as constituting or including the preferred C. difficile specific oligonucleotides according to this invention. The first sub-category is constituted by sub-restriction fragments of either complete sequence, and as such sub-restriction fragments there may be especially identified the following:

An Eco RI/PstI 1448 bp sub-restriction fragment of the Toxin A gene.

Such restriction fragments may, of course, be obtained in known manner, for example by digestion of C. difficile genomic DNA with the appropriate restriction enzyme or enzymes and subsequent separation by gel electrophoresis, chromatography or in any other suitable manner known for the separation of individual DNA restriction fragments according to size.

The second principal sub-category of DNA probes according to the invention are synthetic oligonucleotide sequences, e.g. those already mentioned. Such oligonucleotide sequences are readily assembled using known oligonucleotide synthesis techniques.

Utilising selected complementary pairs of the above oligonucleotides as primers, polymerase chain reactions (PCR) have been carried out according to manufacturers specifications (Cetus Ltd.) to amplify known fragments of C. difficile DNA, both purified total C. difficile DNA and crude C. difficile DNA released from C. difficile bacterial cells. In these experiments:

oligonucleotides 031 and 032 have been shown to amplify a 0.303 kb fragment of C. difficile DNA;

oligonucleotides 028 and 029 have been shown to amplify a 1.2 kb fragment of C. difficile DNA;

oligonucleotides 031 and 029 have been shown to amplify a 0.7 kb fragment of C. difficile DNA;

oligonucleotides 037 and 029 have been shown to amplify a 0.35 kb fragment;

oligonucleotides 029 and 032 have been shown to amplify a 0.8 kb fragment of C. difficile DNA; and

Although PCR amplification appears to be the presently preferred method of C. difficile detection using the C. difficile specific oligonucleotides of this invention, other detection procedures are available and are well known in the art. To this end the C. difficile specific oligonucleotides of this invention may be provided with a variety of different labels: radioactive, fluorescent or enzyme, to provide a variety of DNA probes specific to C. difficile DNA and all permitting the detection of hybridized (bound) DNA probe to the unidentified DNA sample under investigation. Alternatively, of course, for sandwich hybridization techniques the DNA probes of this invention may be immobilized in any known appropriate fashion, e.g. by covalent bonding to a variety of different solid substrates, both particulate, e.g. glass, Sephadex, Sephacryl beads etc., and continuous surface substrates. The techniques of DNA labelling and immobilization are well known in the art, as are methods for the detection of microorganisms, in general, utilizing DNA probes and which will be equally suitable in accordance with the present invention for the specific detection of C. difficile. Such procedures and methods are not part of the present invention as such and need not be further described here.

However, it is to be understood that references herein to an oligonucleotide for use as DNA (or RNA) probe in accordance with this invention are to be taken as including also labelled, tailed and immobilized versions thereof as well as the oligonucleotide sequence per se, it also being understood that oligonucleotide lengths given herein do not include additional non-complementary sequences, such as poly(DA) or poly(DT) tails added for a specific purpose such as immobilizing the probe on a poly(DT) or poly(DA) coated surface.

The C. difficile specific oligonucleotides covered by this invention include both single- and double-stranded versions, it being understood that in any subsequent hybridization procedures such as the detection of C. difficile in clinical, faecal or other samples, such double-stranded oligonucleotide will require denaturing to provide the probes in single-stranded form.

Also included within the scope of this invention are a method of detecting the presence of C. difficile in a sample, for example a faecal sample, which comprises treating the sample to release the DNA or mRNA and detecting the presence of C. difficile DNA or mRNA using a C. difficile specific oligonucleotide according to the invention, and especially a pair of such oligonucleotides as primers for a PCR reaction and diagnostic kits for the diagnosis of C. difficile infection in a patient comprising a C. difficile specific oligonucleotide according to the invention, and especially PCR kits containing a pair of such oligonucleotides for use as primers in the PCR reaction.

The invention is illustrated by the following Examples:

EXAMPLE 1

PCR amplification of C. difficile A toxin gene using oligonucleotides BW69 and BW70

SAMPLE PREPARATION

Nine stranded C. difficile strains, labelled A to E and W to Z were grown anaerobically at 37° C. for 36 hours on selective media (cycloserine, cefoxitin and fructose sugar). Strains B, D, E, W, X and Z were specifically selected as being known to be toxigenic. Strains A, C and Y selected as controls were known to be non-toxigenic.

Single colonies of each strain were scraped with an inoculating loop into a 1.5 ml polypropylene tube containing 200 μl sterile water and boiled for 10 minutes. The samples were then centrifuged for 5 minutes at 14000×g to obtain a supernatent C. difficile cell extract.

OLIGONUCLEOTIDE POLYMER SYNTHESIS

Oligonucleotides BW69 and BW70 (see above) were synthesized on an Applied Biosystems synthesizer using the automated phosphoramidite coupling method.

PCR

Two microliters of each C. difficile extract were added to a 100 μl reaction volume with 10 mM tris-HCl (pH 8.3), 0.01% gelatin, 200 μM of each of the four deoxytribonucleotides: A, C, T, G, 100_(D) M of each of the two primers and 250 Taq polymerase (Perkin-Elmer Cetus, Calif.). The reaction mixtures were overlain with paraffin oil (100 μl) placed in a thermal (Hybaid Ltd.) and amplified for 30 cycles. A rapid two step cycle of 94° C. and 46° C. for 30 seconds each was used except that the first 94° C. step was extended to 3 minutes to ensure denaturation of the initial sample.

PRODUCT SEPARATION

20 μl aliquots of the amplified samples were electrophoresed in a horizontal 4% Nusieve GTG agarose gel (ICN Biochemicals Ltd.) containing 0.5 μl ethidium bromide per ml, and the bands visualized under UV light.

In a parallel series of experiments, the cultured C. difficile strain W was serially diluted to provide samples containing 300, 30 and 3 bacteria (as well as 10⁷ other anaerobic enteric bacteria from the original faecal sample) which were likewise subjected to PCR with primers BW69 and BW70 (samples 1, 2 and 3).

RESULTS

The results are shown in FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings which shows the band separation obtained with each of the samples A to E, W to Z and 1, 2 and 3. Lane M is that of a parallel DNA size marker giving bands at 67 80 110 147 190 242 and 267 bp.

Lanes B, D, E, W, X, Z, 1 and 2 (toxigenic C. difficile strains) each sow a characteristic five bands at 63 126 189 252 and 315 bp, which are not present in samples from the non-toxigenic strains (A, C and T), but which are apparent with samples containing as few as 300 or even 30 bacteria.

These results have been confirmed on a total of 45 C. difficile strains by PCR amplification using the primer pair BW69 and BW70. Of the 45 strains tasted, all 33 strains known to be toxigenic proved positive, whilst the 12 non-toxigenic strain proved negative.

Of 16 strains from 13 different species of Clostridium other than C. difficile, only three, all C. sordelii, have given positive results.

These results are tabulated in Table 1 and clearly show the substantial specificity of the present oligonucleotides towards toxigenic C. difficile, and the fact that positive diagnosis can be made on the basis of as few as 30 bacteria establishes its sensitivity. One of the reasons for this degree of sensitivity is conjectured to be the specific selection of a pair of primers complementary to the 5' and 3' ends of the C. difficile A toxin gene repeat sequence C. Virtually equivalent results can, however, be predicted for similar pairs of primers complementary to the 5' and 3' ends of the repeat sequences A, B and D.

EXAMPLE 2

PCR amplification of C. difficile DNA using oligonucleotide probes 028 and 029

Oligonucleotides 028 and 029 were synthesised as before on an Applied Siosystems synthesiser.

The two primers were then used at a concentration of 1 μM to amplify C. difficile DNA obtained by boiling C. difficile cells in 50 μl of H₂ O for 10 minutes. The DNA was amplified using a cycle profile of 94° C. 1 min., 31° C. 1 min., and 72° C. 3 min. After the last cycle the polymerization step was extended from 3 to 10 minutes. Twenty six cycles of amplification were performed in total. The reactions were carried out in 100 μl volumes, 20 μl samples were run on agarose gels and amplified DNA detected by ethidium bromide staining and comparison with mol. wt. standards. By this method C. difficile DNA has been amplified from cell population as low as 10² C. difficile cells, thus indicating the extreme sensitivity of C. difficile specific oligonucleotides according to this invention. Simultaneous controls with other Clostridia spp. have failed to produce any evidence of amplification, indicating the specificity of probes according to the present invention to C. difficile.

Confirmation that the amplified fragments are C. difficile DNA is obtained both by hybridization with internal oligonucleotide probes and by using two internal primers for PCR after initial amplification, e.g. by using probes 028 and 029, to give amplified fragments of 1.2 kb, and then using 2% of this reaction product to perform further PCR with probes 037 and 029 to give a 0.35 kb fragment.

EXAMPLE 3

PCR amplification of C. difficile DNA using primers BW65 and BW66.

Following the same protocol as in Example 1, DNA was amplified from toxigenic and non-toxigenic C. difficile strains using primers BW65 and BW66.

The results are shown in FIG. 2. Lanes B D E W X and Z show the PCR amplified products from pure colonies of toxigenic C. difficile and Lanes A C and Y the non-toxigenic strains. Lanes 1, 2 and 3 serial dilutions of G toxigenic C. difficile strain W at 300 30 and 3 bacteria mixed with 10⁷ other anerobic enteric bacteria. Lane M is a molecular weight size marker showing DNA lanes at 67 80 110 147 190 242 and 267 bp. (BshI and MspI digests of plasmid pHC 314).

The results obtained in Examples 1 and 3 are summerized in Table 1 below.

                  TABLE 1                                                          ______________________________________                                         Summary of PCR experiments with various clostridial strains                    using either pair of primers BW 65/66 or BW 69/70.                                      No. tested                                                                              PCR positive                                                                              PCR negative                                      ______________________________________                                         Toxigenic  33         33          0                                            C. difficile                                                                   Non-Toxigenic                                                                             12          0         12                                            C. difficile                                                                   Other Clostridial                                                                         16          3         13                                            species                                                                        ______________________________________                                    

These results clearly establish the specifity and sensitivity of the preferred oligonucleotides of the present invention i.e. those complementary to the terminal sequences of the A and C A-toxin repeat sequences, and indicate their utility as a tool in the detection and diagnosis of infections by C. difficile.

    __________________________________________________________________________     APPENDIX 1.                                                                    __________________________________________________________________________     SEQ ID No.1                                                                    Sequence Type:                                                                              Nucleotide                                                        Sequence Length:                                                                            1947 bp                                                           Strandedness:                                                                               Double                                                            Topology:    Linear                                                            Molecule Type:                                                                              Genomic DNA                                                       Original Source:                                                                            C. difficile                                                      Immediate    Bacteriophage λEMBL3 C. difficile                          Experimental Source:                                                                        gene library screening and subcloning into E. coli                Features:    Not yet fully established.                                        Properties:  C. difficile A Toxin gene (fragment)                              __________________________________________________________________________     5'                                                                               ATAGGGGTGTTTAAAGACCTAAAGGATTTGAATATTTTGCACCTGCTAATACTTATAATAATAACATAGAAG       GT                                                                             CAGGCTATAGTTTATCAAAGTAAATTCTTAACTTTGAATGGTAAAAAATATTACTTTGATAATAACTCAAAA       GCA                                                                            GTTACCGGATGGCAAACTATTGATAGTAAAAAATATTACTTTAATACTAACACTGCTGAAGCAGCTACTGGA       TGG                                                                            CAAACTATTGATGGTAAAAAATATTACTTTAATACTAACACTGCTGAAGCAGCTACTGGATGGCAAACTATT       GAT                                                                            GGTAAAAAATATTACTTTAATACTAACACTGCTATAGCTTCAACTGGTTATACAATTATTAATGGTAAACAT       TTT                                                                            TATTTTAATACTGATGGTATTATGCAGATAGGAGTGTTTAAAGGACCTAATGGATTTGAATATTTTGCACCT       GCT                                                                            AATACGGATGCTAACAACATAGAAGGTCAAGCTATACTTTACCAAAGTGAATTCTTAACTTTGAATGGTAAA       AAA                                                                            TATTATTTTGATAATAACTCAAAAGCAGTTACCGGATGGCAAACTATTGATAGTAAAAAATATTACTTTAAT       ACT                                                                            AACACTGCTATAGCTTCAACTGGTTATACTATTATTAATGGAAAACATTTTTATTTAAATACTGATGGTATT       ATA                                                                            GCTTCAACTGGTTATACAATTATTAATGGTAACCATTTTTATTTTAATACTGATGGTATTATGAAAATAGGG       GTT                                                                            TTTAAAGGACCTAATGGATTTGAATATTTTGCACCTGCTAATACTGATCATAATAATATAGAAGGTCAGGCT       ATA                                                                            GTTTATCAAAGTAAATTCTTAACTTTGAATGGTAAAAAATATTATTTTGATAATAATTCAAAAGCAGTTACT       GGA                                                                            TGGCAAACTATTGATAGTAAAAAATATTACTTTAATACTAACACTGCTGAAGCAGCTACTGGATGGCAAACT       ATT                                                                            GATGGTAAAAAATATTACTTTAATACTAACACTGCTGAAGCAGCTACTGGATGGCAAACTATTGATGGTAAA       AA                                                                             ATATTACTTTAATACTAACACTGCTATAGCTTCAACTGGTTATACAATTATTAATGGTAAACATTTTTATTT       TAAT                                                                           ACTGATGGTATTATCGGAGTGTTTAAAGGACCTAATGGATTTGAATATTTTGCACCTGCTAATACTGATGCT       AAT                                                                            AACATAGAAGGTCAAGCTATAGTTTATCAAAGTAAATTTTTAACTTTGAATGGTAAAAAATATTACTTTGAT       AAT                                                                            AACTCAAAAGCAGTTACTGGATGGCATACTATTGATAGTAAAAAATATTACTTTAATACTAACACTGCTGAA       GCA                                                                            GCTACTGGATGGCAAACTATTGATGGTAAAAAATATTACTTTAATACTAACACTGCTATAGCTTCAACTGGT       TAT                                                                            ACAATTAATAATGGAAAACATTTTTATTTTAATACTGATGGTATTATAGGAGTGTTTAAAGGACCTAATGGA       TTT                                                                            GAATATTTTGCACCTGCTAATACGGATGCTAACAACATAGAAGGTCAAGCTATAGTTTATCAAAGTAAATTC       TTA                                                                            ACTTTGAATGGTAAAAAATATTATTTTGATAATAACTCAAATGCTGTTACCGGATGTCAAACTATTGATAGT       AAA                                                                            AAATATTACTTTAATACTAACACTGCTATAGCTTCAACTGGTTATACAATTATTAATGGTAAACATTTTTAT       TTT                                                                            AATACTGATGGTATTATAGGGGTGTTTAAAGGTCCTAATGGATTTGAATATTTTGCACCTGCTAATACTTAT       GAT                                                                            AATAACATAGAAGGTCAGGCTATAGTTTATCAAAGTAAATTATTAACTTTGAATGGTAAAAAATATTATTTT       GAT                                                                            AATAACTCAAAAGCAGTTACCGGATGGCAAACTATTGATAGTAAAAAATATTACTTTAATACTAACACTGCA       G3'                                                                          __________________________________________________________________________

    __________________________________________________________________________     APPENDIX II.                                                                   __________________________________________________________________________     SEQ ID No.2                                                                    Sequence Type:                                                                              Nucleotide                                                        Sequence Length:                                                                            1853 bp                                                           Strandedness:                                                                               Double                                                            Topology:    Linear                                                            Molecule type:                                                                              Genomic DNA                                                       Original source:                                                                            C. difficile                                                      Immediate experimental                                                                      C. difficile by Hind III digestion                                source:                                                                        Features:    Not yet established.                                              Properties:  Not known.                                                        __________________________________________________________________________     AAAATAGTAA                                                                               AAAAGTAGTG                                                                               ATAGCTGCTG                                                                               TAAACGGATT                                                                               TGCTTTAGGT                                                                               GGATGTGAAC                                                                                60                TTGCAATGGC                                                                               ATGTGATATA                                                                               AGAATTGCAT                                                                               CTGCTAAAGC                                                                               TAAATTTGGT                                                                               CAGCCAGAAG                                                                                120               TAACTCTTGG                                                                               AATAACTCCA                                                                               GGATATGGAG                                                                               GAACTCAAAG                                                                               GCTTACAAGA                                                                               TTGGTTGGAA                                                                                180               TGGCAAAAGC                                                                               AAAACAATTA                                                                               ATCTTTACAG                                                                               GTCAAGTTAT                                                                               AAAAGCTGAT                                                                               GAAGCTGAAA                                                                                240               AAATAGGGCT                                                                               AGTAAATAGA                                                                               GTCGTTGAGC                                                                               CAGACATTTT                                                                               AATAGAAGAA                                                                               GTTGAGAAAT                                                                                300               TAGCTAAGAT                                                                               AATAGCTAAA                                                                               AATGCTCAGC                                                                               TTGCAGTTAC                                                                               ATACTCTAAA                                                                               GAAGCAATAC                                                                                360               ACTTGGTGCT                                                                               CAAACTGATA                                                                               TAAATACTGG                                                                               AATAGATATA                                                                               GAATCTAATT                                                                               TATTTGGTCT                                                                                420               TTGTTTTTCA                                                                               ACTAAACACC                                                                               AAAAAGAAGG                                                                               AATGTCAGCT                                                                               TTCGTTGAAA                                                                               AGAGAGAAGC                                                                                480               TAAGTTTATA                                                                               AAAGGGTAAA                                                                               AATCTAATTA                                                                               AAAATATATT                                                                               TGCTGTTAAC                                                                               TAGAATAATT                                                                                540               TAAATAGTAT                                                                               TTTAATCTAG                                                                               TTAACATAAT                                                                               ATAAATACTA                                                                               AAATAACAGG                                                                               AGGTTATAAC                                                                                600               TATGAAATTA                                                                               GCTGTAATAG                                                                               GTAGTGGAAC                                                                               TATGGGAAGT                                                                               GGTATTGTAC                                                                               AAACTTTTGC                                                                                660               AAGTTGTGGA                                                                               CATGATGTAT                                                                               GTTTAAAGAG                                                                               TAGAACTCAA                                                                               GGTGCTATAG                                                                               ATAAATGTTT                                                                                720               AGCTTTATTA                                                                               GATAAAAATT                                                                               TAACTAAGTT                                                                               AGTTACTAAG                                                                               GGAAAATGGA                                                                               TGAAAGCTAC                                                                                780               AAAAGCAGAA                                                                               ATATTAAGTC                                                                               ATGTTAGTTC                                                                               AACTACTAAC                                                                               TATGAAGATT                                                                               TAAAAGATAT                                                                                840               GGATTTAATA                                                                               ATAGAAGCAT                                                                               CTGTAGAAGA                                                                               CATGAATATA                                                                               AAGAAAGATG                                                                               TTTTCAACTT                                                                                900               ACTAGATGAA                                                                               TTATGTAAAG                                                                               AAGATACTAT                                                                               CTTGGCAACA                                                                               AATACTTCAT                                                                               CATTATCTAT                                                                                960               AACAGAAATA                                                                               GCTTCTTCTA                                                                               CTAAGAGACC                                                                               AGATAAAGTT                                                                               ATAGGAATGC                                                                               ATTTCTTTAA                                                                               1020               TCCAGTTCCT                                                                               ATGATGAAAT                                                                               TAGTTGAAGT                                                                               TATAAGTGGT                                                                               CAGTTAACAT                                                                               CAAAAGTTAC                                                                               1080               TTTTGATACA                                                                               GTATTTGAAT                                                                               TACTTAAGAG                                                                               TATCAATAAA                                                                               GTACCAGTAG                                                                               ATGTATCTGA                                                                               1140               ATCTCCTGGA                                                                               TTTGTAGTAA                                                                               ATAGAATACT                                                                               TATACCTATG                                                                               ATAAATGAAG                                                                               CTGTTGGTAT                                                                               1200               ATATGCAGAT                                                                               GGTGTTGCAA                                                                               GTAAAGAAGA                                                                               AATAGATGAA                                                                               GCTATGAAAT                                                                               TAGGAGCAAA                                                                               1260               CCATCAATGG                                                                               ACCACTAGCA                                                                               TTAGGTGATT                                                                               TAATTGGATT                                                                               AGATGTTGTT                                                                               TTAGCTATAA                                                                               1320               TGAACGTTTT                                                                               ATATACTGAG                                                                               TTTGGAGATA                                                                               CTAAATATAG                                                                               ACCTCATCAC                                                                               TTTTAGCTAA                                                                               1380               AATGGTTAGA                                                                               GCTAAGCAAT                                                                               TAGGAAGAAA                                                                               AACTAAGATA                                                                               GGATTCTATG                                                                               ATTATAATAA                                                                               1440               ATAAGAATTT                                                                               GGAATAAAAG                                                                               TTTAAATAAA                                                                               ATTGTTTAAA                                                                               AACAATTTCG                                                                               ATATATGAAA                                                                               1500               AAATCTAATT                                                                               TAATGGGGGT                                                                               AATGATATGA                                                                               GAGAAGTAGT                                                                               AATTGCCAGT                                                                               GCAGCTAGAA                                                                               1560               CAGCAGTAGG                                                                               AAGTTTTGGA                                                                               GGAGCATTTA                                                                               AATCAGTTTC                                                                               AGCGGTAGAG                                                                               TTAGGGGTAA                                                                               1620               CAGCAGCTAA                                                                               AGAAGCTATA                                                                               AAAAGAGCTA                                                                               ACATAACTCC                                                                               AGATATGATA                                                                               GATGAATCTC                                                                               1680               TTTTTAGGGG                                                                               GAGTACTTAC                                                                               AGCAGGTCTT                                                                               GGACAAAATA                                                                               TATAGCAAGA                                                                               CAAATAGCAT                                                                               1740               TAGGAGCAGG                                                                               AATACCAGTA                                                                               GAAAAACCAG                                                                               CTATGACTAT                                                                               AAATATACTT                                                                               TGTGGTTCTG                                                                               1800               GATTAAGATC                                                                               GTGGCGGGCA                                                                               CTCCGAACGT                                                                               GAACGGGTCC                                                                               GCGTCGACCT                                                                               GCA       1853               __________________________________________________________________________

    __________________________________________________________________________     SEQUENCE LISTING                                                               (1) GENERAL INFORMATION:                                                       (iii) NUMBER OF SEQUENCES: 2                                                   (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 1:                                              (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 1948 base pairs                                                    (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: double                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)                                              (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE:                                                           (A) ORGANISM: Clostridium difficile                                           (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 1:                                       ATAGGGGTGTTTAAAGGACCTAAAGGATTTGAATATTTTGCACCTGCTAATACTTATAAT60                 AATAACATAGAAGGTCAGGCTATAGTTTATCAAAGTAAATTCTTAACTTTGAATGGTAAA120                AAATATTACTTTGAT AATAACTCAAAAGCAGTTACCGGATGGCAAACTATTGATAGTAAA180               AAATATTACTTTAATACTAACACTGCTGAAGCAGCTACTGGATGGCAAACTATTGATGGT240                AAAAAATATTACTTTAATACTAACACTGCTGAAGCAGCTACTGGATGGCAAACTATTGAT300                GGTAAAAAATATTACTTTAATACTAACACTGCTATAGCTTCAACTGGTTATACAATTATT360                AATGGTAAACATTTTTATTTTAATACTGATGGTATTATGCAGATAGGAGTGTTTAAAGGA420                CCTAATGGATTTGAATATTTTGCACCTGCTAATACGGATGCTAACAA CATAGAAGGTCAA480               GCTATACTTTACCAAAGTGAATTCTTAACTTTGAATGGTAAAAAATATTATTTTGATAAT540                AACTCAAAAGCAGTTACCGGATGGCAAACTATTGATAGTAAAAAATATTACTTTAATACT600                AACACTGCTATAGCTTCAACTGGTTATACT ATTATTAATGGAAAACATTTTTATTTAAAT660               ACTGATGGTATTATAGCTTCAACTGGTTATACAATTATTAATGGTAACCATTTTTATTTT720                AATACTGATGGTATTATGAAAATAGGGGTTTTTAAAGGACCTAATGGATTTGAATATTTT780                GCACCTGCTAAT ACTGATCATAATAATATAGAAGGTCAGGCTATAGTTTATCAAAGTAAA840               TTCTTAACTTTGAATGGTAAAAAATATTATTTTGATAATAATTCAAAAGCAGTTACTGGA900                TGGCAAACTATTGATAGTAAAAAATATTACTTTAATACTAACACTGCTGAAGCAGCTACT9 60               GGATGGCAAACTATTGATGGTAAAAAATATTACTTTAATACTAACACTGCTGAAGCAGCT1020               ACTGGATGGCAAACTATTGATGGTAAAAAATATTACTTTAATACTAACACTGCTATAGCT1080               TCAACTGGTTATACAATTATTAATGGTAAACATTTTTATTTT AATACTGATGGTATTATC1140              GGAGTGTTTAAAGGACCTAATGGATTTGAATATTTTGCACCTGCTAATACTGATGCTAAT1200               AACATAGAAGGTCAAGCTATAGTTTATCAAAGTAAATTTTTAACTTTGAATGGTAAAAAA1260               TATTACTTTGATAATAACTCAA AAGCAGTTACTGGATGGCATACTATTGATAGTAAAAAA1320              TATTACTTTAATACTAACACTGCTGAAGCAGCTACTGGATGGCAAACTATTGATGGTAAA1380               AAATATTACTTTAATACTAACACTGCTATAGCTTCAACTGGTTATACAATTAATAATGGA1440               AA ACATTTTTATTTTAATACTGATGGTATTATAGGAGTGTTTAAAGGACCTAATGGATTT1500              GAATATTTTGCACCTGCTAATACGGATGCTAACAACATAGAAGGTCAAGCTATAGTTTAT1560               CAAAGTAAATTCTTAACTTTGAATGGTAAAAAATATTATTTTGATAATAA CTCAAATGCT1620              GTTACCGGATGTCAAACTATTGATAGTAAAAAATATTACTTTAATACTAACACTGCTATA1680               GCTTCAACTGGTTATACAATTATTAATGGTAAACATTTTTATTTTAATACTGATGGTATT1740               ATAGGGGTGTTTAAAGGTCCTAATGGATTT GAATATTTTGCACCTGCTAATACTTATGAT1800              AATAACATAGAAGGTCAGGCTATAGTTTATCAAAGTAAATTATTAACTTTGAATGGTAAA1860               AAATATTATTTTGATAATAACTCAAAAGCAGTTACCGGATGGCAAACTATTGATAGTAAA1920               AAATATTACT TTAATACTAACACTGCAG1948                                              (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 2:                                              (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 1853 base pairs                                                    (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: double                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)                                              (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE:                                                           (A) ORGANISM: Clostridium difficile                                           (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 2:                                       AAAATAGTAAAAAAGTAGTGATAGCTGCTGTAAACGGATTTGCTTTAGGTGGATGTGAAC60                 TTGCAATGGCATGTGATATAAGAATTGCATCTGCTAAAGCTAAATTTGGTCAGCCAGAAG120                TAACTCTTGGAATAACTCCA GGATATGGAGGAACTCAAAGGCTTACAAGATTGGTTGGAA180               TGGCAAAAGCAAAACAATTAATCTTTACAGGTCAAGTTATAAAAGCTGATGAAGCTGAAA240                AAATAGGGCTAGTAAATAGAGTCGTTGAGCCAGACATTTTAATAGAAGAAGTTGAGAAAT300                TA GCTAAGATAATAGCTAAAAATGCTCAGCTTGCAGTTACATACTCTAAAGAAGCAATAC360               ACTTGGTGCTCAAACTGATATAAATACTGGAATAGATATAGAATCTAATTTATTTGGTCT420                TTGTTTTTCAACTAAACACCAAAAAGAAGGAATGTCAGCTTTCGTTGAAAA GAGAGAAGC480               TAAGTTTATAAAAGGGTAAAAATCTAATTAAAAATATATTTGCTGTTAACTAGAATAATT540                TAAATAGTATTTTAATCTAGTTAACATAATATAAATACTAAAATAACAGGAGGTTATAAC600                TATGAAATTAGCTGTAATAGGTAGTGGAACTATG GGAAGTGGTATTGTACAAACTTTTGC660               AAGTTGTGGACATGATGTATGTTTAAAGAGTAGAACTCAAGGTGCTATAGATAAATGTTT720                AGCTTTATTAGATAAAAATTTAACTAAGTTAGTTACTAAGGGAAAATGGATGAAAGCTAC780                AAAAGCAGAAATATTAA GTCATGTTAGTTCAACTACTAACTATGAAGATTTAAAAGATAT840               GGATTTAATAATAGAAGCATCTGTAGAAGACATGAATATAAAGAAAGATGTTTTCAACTT900                ACTAGATGAATTATGTAAAGAAGATACTATCTTGGCAACAAATACTTCATCATTATCTAT960                 AACAGAAATAGCTTCTTCTACTAAGAGACCAGATAAAGTTATAGGAATGCATTTCTTTAA1020              TCCAGTTCCTATGATGAAATTAGTTGAAGTTATAAGTGGTCAGTTAACATCAAAAGTTAC1080               TTTTGATACAGTATTTGAATTACTTAAGAGTATCAATAAAGTACCAG TAGATGTATCTGA1140              ATCTCCTGGATTTGTAGTAAATAGAATACTTATACCTATGATAAATGAAGCTGTTGGTAT1200               ATATGCAGATGGTGTTGCAAGTAAAGAAGAAATAGATGAAGCTATGAAATTAGGAGCAAA1260               CCATCAATGGACCACTAGCATTAGGTG ATTTAATTGGATTAGATGTTGTTTTAGCTATAA1320              TGAACGTTTTATATACTGAGTTTGGAGATACTAAATATAGACCTCATCACTTTTAGCTAA1380               AATGGTTAGAGCTAAGCAATTAGGAAGAAAAACTAAGATAGGATTCTATGATTATAATAA1440               ATAAGAA TTTGGAATAAAAGTTTAAATAAAATTGTTTAAAAACAATTTCGATATATGAAA1500              AAATCTAATTTAATGGGGGTAATGATATGAGAGAAGTAGTAATTGCCAGTGCAGCTAGAA1560               CAGCAGTAGGAAGTTTTGGAGGAGCATTTAAATCAGTTTCAGCGGTAGAGTTAG GGGTAA1620              CAGCAGCTAAAGAAGCTATAAAAAGAGCTAACATAACTCCAGATATGATAGATGAATCTC1680               TTTTTAGGGGGAGTACTTACAGCAGGTCTTGGACAAAATATATAGCAAGACAAATAGCAT1740               TAGGAGCAGGAATACCAGTAGAAAAACCAGCTAT GACTATAAATATACTTTGTGGTTCTG1800              GATTAAGATCGTGGCGGGCACTCCGAACGTGAACGGGTCCGCGTCGACCTGCA1853                  

We claim:
 1. An oligonucleotide for use in detecting DNA or RNA from microorganisms of the species Clostridium difficile, said oligonucleotide being selected from the group consisting of the sequences:

    ______________________________________                                         i)  A     5' ATAGGGGTGT TTAAAGGACC nucleotides                                           TAAAGGATTT GAATATTTTG    1-81 of Seq.                                          CACCTGCTAA TACTTATAAT    I.D. No.
 1.                                           AATAACATAG AAGGTCAGGC T 3'                                           ii) B     5' ATAGTTTATC AAAGTAAATT nucleotides                                           CTTAACTTTG AATGGTAAAA    82-144 of                                             AATATTACTT TGATAATAAC    Seq. I.D.                                             TCA 3'                   No.
 1.                                      iii)                                                                               C     5' GAAGCAGCTA CTGGATGGCA nucleotides                                           AACTATTGAT GGTAAAAAAT    208-270 of                                            ATTACTTTAA TACTAACACT    Seq. I.D.                                             GCT 3'                   No.
 1.                                      iv) D     5' ATAGCTTCAA CTGGTTATAC nucleotides                                           AATTATTAAT GGTAAACATT    334-396 of                                            TTTATTTTAA TACTGATGGT    Seq. I.D.                                             ATT 3'                   No.
 1.                                      ______________________________________                                    

v) DNA sequences consisting of sequences that are fully complementary to sequence A, B, C or D; vi) DNA sequences that are partial subsequences of the DNA sequence A, B, C or D, such partial subsequences having a minimum of 15 consecutive nucleotide bases; vii) DNA sequences that are partial subsequences of the DNA sequences that are fully complementary to sequence A, B, C or D, such partial subsequences having a minimum of 15 consecutive nucleotide bases; viii) RNA sequences having a sequence as defined in sequence A, B, C or D, but with U replacing T; and ix) RNA sequences having a partial subsequence of sequence A, B, C or D, the partial subsequence having a minimum of 15 consecutive nucleotide bases and with U replacing T in the partial sequence.
 2. An oligonucleotide according to claim 1, wherein said oligonucleotide is from 15 to 30 nucleotide bases in length.
 3. An oligonucleotide for use in detecting DNA or RNA from microorganisms of the species Clostridium difficile, said oligonucleotide being selected from the group consisting of:

    ______________________________________                                         i)  A     5' ATAGGGGTGT TTAAAGGACC  nucleo-                                              TAAAGGATTT GAATATTTTG     tides 1-81                                           CACCTGCTAA TACTTATAAT     of Seq.                                              AATAACATAG AAGGTCAGGC T 3'                                                                               I.D.                                                                           No. 1                                      ii) C     5' GAAGCAGCTA CTGGATGGCA  nucleo-                                              AACTATTGAT GGTAAAAAAT     tides                                                ATTACTTTAA TACTAACACT GCT 3'                                                                             208-270                                                                        of Seq.                                                                        I.D.                                                                           No. 1                                      ______________________________________                                    

iii) DNA sequences consisting of sequences that are fully complementary to sequence A and C; iv) DNA sequences that are partial subsequences of the DNA sequence A or C, such partial subsequences having a minimum of 15 consecutive nucleotide bases; v) DNA sequences that are partial subsequences of the DNA sequences that are fully complementary to sequence A or C, such partial subsequences having a minimum of 15 consecutive nucleotide bases; vi) RNA sequences having a sequence as defined in sequence A or C but with U replacing T; and vii) RNA sequences having a partial subsequences of A or C, the partial subsequence having a minimum of 15 consecutive nucleotide bases and with U replacing T in the partial sequence.
 4. An oligonucleotide according to claim 3, wherein said oligonucleotide is from 15 to 30 nucleotide bases in length.
 5. The oligonucleotide5' GAAGCAGCTA CTGGATGGCA 3' nucleotides 208-226 of Seq. I.D. No.1.
 6. The oligonucleotide5' AGCAGTGTTA GTATTAAAGT 3' complementary to nucleotides 251-270 of Seq. I.D. No.1.
 7. The oligonucleotide5' ATAGGGGTGT TTAAAGGACC T 3' nucleotides 1.21 of Seq. I.D. No.1.
 8. The oligonucleotide5' AGCCTGACCT TCTATGTTAT 3' complementary to nucleotides 62-81 of Seq. I.D. No.1.
 9. An oligonucleotide according to claim 1, wherein said oligonucleotide is a DNA sequence.
 10. An oligonucleotide according to claim 3, wherein said oligonucleotide is a DNA sequence.
 11. An oligonucleotide probe for use in detecting DNA or RNA from microorganisms of the species Clostridium difficile, said probe consisting of an oligonucleotide sequence labelled with a label permitting detection of the probe when hybridized to a complementary sequence of C. difficile DNA or mRNA, said oligonucleotide sequence being selected from the group consisting of

    ______________________________________                                         i)  A     5' ATAGGGGTGT TTAAAGGACC nucleotides                                           TAAAGGATTT GAATATTTTG    1-81 of Seq.                                          CACCTGCTAA TACTTATAAT    I.D. No.
 1.                                           AATAACATAG AAGGTCAGGC T 3'                                           ii) B     5' ATAGTTTATC AAAGTAAATT nucleotides                                           CTTAACTTTG AATGGTAAAA    82-144 of                                             AATATTACTT TGATAATAAC    Seq. I.D.                                             TCA 3'                   No.
 1.                                      iii)                                                                               C     5' GAAGCAGCTA CTGGATGGCA nucleotides                                           AACTATTGAT GGTAAAAAAT    208-270 of                                            ATTACTTTAA TACTAACACT    Seq. I.D.                                             GCT 3'                   No.
 1.                                      iv) D     5' ATAGCTTCAA CTGGTTATAC nucleotides                                           AATTATTAAT GGTAAACATT    334-396 of                                            TTTATTTTAA TACTGATGGT    Seq. I.D.                                             ATT 3'                   No.
 1.                                      ______________________________________                                    

v) DNA sequences consisting of sequences that are fully complementary to sequence A, B, C or D; vi) DNA sequences that are partial subsequences of the DNA sequence A, B, C or D, such partial subsequences having a minimum of 15 consecutive nucleotide bases; vii) DNA sequences that are partial subsequences of the DNA sequence that are fully complementary to sequence A, B, C or D, such partial subsequences having a minimum of 15 consecutive nucleotide bases; viii) RNA sequences having a sequence as defined in sequence A, B, C, or D but with U replacing T; and ix) RNA sequences having a partial subsequence A, B, C or D, the partial subsequence having a minimum of 15 consecutive nucleotide bases and with U replacing T in the partial sequence.
 12. An oligonucleotide probe according to claim 11, wherein said probe is from 15 to 30 nucleotide bases in length.
 13. An oligonucleotide probe according to claim 11, wherein said oligonucleotide sequence is a DNA sequence.
 14. An oligonucleotide probe according to claim 11 wherein the label attached to the oligonucleotide sequence is selected from the group consisting of radioactive labels, fluorescent labels and enzyme labels.
 15. An oligonucleotide probe according to claim 11, wherein said oligonucleotide sequence is immobilized onto a solid support.
 16. An oligonucleotide probe for use in detecting DNA or RNA from microorganisms of the species Clostridium difficile, said probe consisting of an oligonucleotide sequence labelled with a label permitting detection of the probe when hybridized to a complementary sequence of C. difficile DNA or mRNA, said oligonucleotide sequence being selected from the group consisting of

    ______________________________________                                         i)  A     5' ATAGGGGTGT TTAAAGGACC  nucleo-                                              TAAAGGATTT GAATATTTTG     tides 1-81                                           CACCTGCTAA TACTTATAAT     of Seq.                                              AATAACATAG AAGGTCAGGC T 3'                                                                               I.D.                                                                           No. 1                                      ii) C     5' GAAGCAGCTA CTGGATGGCA  nucleo-                                              AACTATTGAT GGTAAAAAAT     tides                                                ATTACTTTAA TACTAACACT GCT 3'                                                                             208-270                                                                        of Seq.                                                                        I.D.                                                                           No. 1                                      ______________________________________                                    

iii) DNA sequences consisting of sequences that are fully complementary to sequence A or C; iv) DNA sequences that are partial subsequences of the DNA sequence A or C, such partial subsequences having a minimum of 15 consecutive nucleotide bases; v) DNA sequences that are partial subsequences of the DNA sequences that are fully complementary to sequence A or C, such partial subsequences having a minimum of 15 consecutive nucleotide bases; vi) RNA sequences having a sequence as defined in sequence A or C but with U replacing T; and vii) RNA sequences having a partial subsequences of A or C, the partial subsequence having a minimum of 15 consecutive nucleotide bases and with U replacing T in the partial sequence.
 17. An oligonucleotide probe according to claim 16, wherein said probe is from 15 to 30 nucleotide bases in length.
 18. An oligonucleotide probe according to claim 17, wherein said oligonucleotide sequence is a DNA sequence.
 19. An oligonucleotide probe according to claim 17 wherein the label attached to the oligonucleotide sequence is selected from the group consisting of radioactive labels, fluorescent labels and enzyme labels.
 20. An oligonucleotide probe according to claim 17 wherein the oligonucleotide sequence is immobilized onto a solid support.
 21. A method of detecting the presence of C. difficile DNA or mRNA in a sample which comprises treating the sample with an oligonucleotide probe as claimed in claim 28 and under conditions such that the probe can hybridize to the genetic DNA or mRNA so that a hybridication product is formed, and detecting the presence of said DNA or mRNA in the sample by detecting the presence of the hybridized labelled probe.
 22. A method according to claim 21 wherein the oligonucleotide probe is from 15 to 30 nucleotide bases in length.
 23. A method according to claim 22 wherein the oligonucleotide probe is a DNA probe.
 24. A method of amplifying C. difficile DNA in a sample which comprises subjecting said DNA to a polymerase chain reaction using as primers a pair of oligonucleotides as claimed in claim 1, the oligonucleotide sequences used as primers being DNA sequences.
 25. A method of amplifying C. difficile DNA in a sample which comprises subjecting said DNA to a polymerase chain reaction using as primers a pair of oligonucleotides as claimed in claim 3, the oligonucleotide sequences used as primers being DNA sequences.
 26. A method according to claim 25 wherein the primers used are the oligonucleotides:5' GAAGCAGCTA CTGGATGGCA 3' nucleotides 208-226 of Seq. I.D. No.1, 5' AGCAGTGTTA GTATTAAAGT 3' complementary of nucleotides 251-270 to Seq. I.D. No.1.
 27. A method according to claim 25 wherein the primers used are the oligonucleotides:5' ATAGGGGTGT TTAAAGGACC T 3' nucleotides 1-27 of Seq. I.D. No.1, 5' AGCCTGACCT TCTATGTTAT 3' complementary of nucleotides 62-81 to Seq. I.D. No.1.
 28. A method according to claim 21 wherein the sample is a clinical sample.
 29. A method according to claim 28 wherein the sample is a faecal sample. 